5 Tips to Handle Oil Spills Like a Pro

Apart from being a serious health and environment hazard, oil spills can be messy, unsightly, and hard to clean. Unfortunately, no amount of precaution can guarantee that you will never have to handle this problem. But, there are many easy ways you can tackle an oil spill, whether it’s on the floor, on the carpet or your clothes. Here’s how to go about it.

Get yourself a spill kit

Oil spill kits, which include an oil spill absorbent, usually accommodate solvents, water, oil and other liquids. Choose an oil spill kit that can help accommodate both hazardous and nonhazardous spills.

Respond immediately

When a spill happens, act on the spot. Taking too long gives the oil time to dissolve in your carpet, making the stain tougher to remove. If the spill happened on the floor, the oil could spread and damage the concrete or wood.

Do not use water

Many people act on impulse at the sight of an oil spill. Their first reaction is to wash the stain with water. That’s a bad idea. As water and oil do not mix, it’s useless to try to use it as an oil stain remover. Use an absorbent instead. Just sprinkle it on the surface of the spill to absorb the excess oil before easily sweeping it away.

Use detergent

Here’s the idea: if dishwashing detergent works so well with the grease on your utensils, it should be able to remove stains on other surfaces. Whether in its powder or liquid form, your simple detergent should work adequately.

Call the experts

When you have tried everything but still failed to get the stain out, consider calling in an expert to help you out. There are expert cleaners out there who can help remove the most stubborn stains.